Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-01-14
HOW A MISHR WAS CURED.


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was young man.
BY the time he was forty he was
a very rich man, though he lived
as plainly as ever and somehow
about that age the first tender feel
ings he had ever known crept into
his heart. He fell in love with a
buxom, good-tempered young wo-
man named Sara WOOlwich, and
offered himself to her. lie was not
an lll-loOking man, and when he
chose could make himself agreea-
bic. Sara liked him ana accepted
him.
Jonas meant to be liberal to her
at first, but after a brief honey
moon, his old habits resumed their
sway, and at last, the second win
ter OF their married life coming on,
Sara found that all her remarks
about her shabby summer hat had
no effect whatever, and that she
might wait a long time without
such thing as a comfortable cloak
suggested to her. She had been %
poor girl aud had no trousseau to
speak of, and she found 1t neces'
sary to put her pride in her pocket
and ask for what she needed. 1t
was hard enough for wife to do
that, but to be refused was some
thing she had not calculated on.
She knew that her husband had
a large bank accountant there
was no reason why she should not
be dressed as well as any lady IN
the land. But when she had said,
PLAY fully, "Jonas, shall / buy my
self some winter things today /
need a shawl dreadfully,' ho had
answered, ~ thought you we're too
sensible a woman TO run after
the fashion, Sara; I'm sure you
have very decent things that you
might wear a long time yet
"Jonas, dear" she said, 81 don't
want to be unreasonable, but look
at these see how shabby they are.
They were nice when We were mar
ried, but they were cheap, very
cheap, and cheap things fade so. l
have made everything had do for
two years. did not like to ask
for clothes. You know YOU gave
me two pairs Of gloves in our honey
moon ! have them STILL
"What IA good, careful girl said
Jonas caressiug her dark hair, as
she came and sat on a low stool be
side him.
eyes, l have been careful, it is
my nature TO be careful said
Sara. "Few rich mems wives
would have done so much. Now
look at these things, my dear
Jonas looked. There came a time
aftervard when it seemed to him
that the faded tint Of that shawl,
its dingy palm leaves OF yellow
brown, and the wilted flowers and
shabby ribbons of the bonnet mad
been scared into his brain. He
looked at them long and lingering
~. He knew that his wife was
reasonable, and that the things
were, and long had been, unfit for
her to wear. Buthis money tugged
at his heart-stiings.
After while bis wife got her
old bonnet and shawl and said
"Jonas, am going to spend the
day with my sister-in-law, but 1
shall be home before dinner time.
81 hope YOU will enjoy yourself,
my DEAR" said Jonas.
He saw her eyes were heavy with
weeping, and looked away ashamed
of himself Then he betook himself
to his Office where he ground out
his money aud during the day
compromised with himself. lie
would do no extrayagant thing,
but when he went home he would
give his wife what was necessary
And after all, as he said to himself
it would have been better to do it,
lie had grieved her, and she was
the only thing lie loved on earth.
He went home earlier than usual
that evening, TO make what amends
his soul would consent TO, and as
he walked briskly along, being light
upon his feet yet-iOr who has ever
heard of q miser growing fat he
thought he would rever again bring
the tears to those good, kind eyes.
Never, never again, and theu-whai
was that crowd? People were com
ing his way. looking backward as
they came. Men, boys, women. all
the riif.raff that an accident OF an
arrest will collect in the city. And
now he was in the midst Of tho
throng and close to four policemen
who, with set faces, marched DO
time, bearing between them
stretcher on which lay a human
form. It was covered--covereC
with a shawl. Jonas looked. Oh
heavens he knew the pattern o
that shawl only few hours be
fore its dingy palm leaves of yellow
brown, It's faded fringe, its shabby
brown center had been spread on
before him. 1t was bis wife's shawl
"Stop-stop-stOp - he cried
"Let me see her-let me see her..
"Do You know her ~ asked pc
liceman.
"Let me see her face" said Jonas
growing so faint that a kindly man